Zelenskyy: Russia using Iranian weapons in ‘massive’ attack targeting energy infrastructure
Russian forces launched a devastating attack on Ukraine’s energy and power plant infrastructure on Sunday, using hundreds of drones and missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the assault involved at least 120 missiles and 90 drones, including Iranian-made Shahed drones. This attack marked the largest long-range assault from Russia in the past three months.
Zelenskyy lamented the damage caused by the attack, stating that the enemy’s target was the energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Tragically, two people were killed and six others, including two children, were injured in Mykolaiv due to a drone strike. However, Ukrainian forces managed to intercept and shoot down 144 of the projectiles before they could reach their intended targets.
Explosions were reported in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, and western Ukraine. Odesa, a crucial port city, was left without power as a result of the attack. In response, Poland’s military promptly scrambled its airforce within its borders, although no Russian ordnance fell on Polish soil.
This assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is part of Russia’s consistent strategy to target these vital facilities, especially as temperatures drop in Ukraine. This approach has been utilized by Moscow in previous years of the conflict, causing significant disruptions and hardships for the Ukrainian people.
The timing of this attack coincides with President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia. The envoy will not receive a salary for this crucial role, similar to Kurt Volker, who served as a volunteer special representative for Ukrainian negotiations from 2017 to 2019.
As Trump continues to announce his Cabinet picks and advisors at a rapid pace, his focus on resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia remains a top priority. Trump has expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, although specific details of his approach have not been disclosed.
Some advisers are urging Trump to press Kyiv to accept terms that would establish an 800-mile demilitarized zone along the frontlines and allow Russia to retain the territory it has unlawfully seized, amounting to about 20% of Ukraine. Additionally, there are suggestions for Kyiv to postpone seeking NATO membership for two decades, a proposal that critics argue plays into Putin’s hands.
As the situation escalates in Ukraine, efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution continue amidst the ongoing conflict. The world watches closely as the dynamics between Russia, Ukraine, and the incoming Trump administration unfold.
(Content rewritten by [Your Name], based on the original article by Anders Hagstrom for Fox News Digital.)
